What does "push religion on me" mean?

[Aidensmom]

This is inspired by a lot of recent threads where posters have complained about people "pushing their religion" on them. I am just kind of wondering what that means. It seems like a lot of people feel that all Christians do this, not just some, so I am curious of the definition.

IRL, the only discussions about faith I really have are with other Christians, unless someone comes right out and asks me a question. I may mention that I go to church (as in "I can't meet you for lunch that early, I will still be in church") , but I don't tell anyone else they need to.

Here on the boards, there is a lot of discussion on faith topics, so I do participate, though I have been accused by a couple of posters of pushing my faith here just because I have answered a question or participated in a faith-based discussion stating what I believe.

What is the line between having a faith and pushing it?

 

[caitycaity]

for me, answering a question is not pushing faith.

however, if someone posted something on a thread for godless heathens saying "i'll pray for all of you to be saved." i would assume that was pushing religion. basically, anytime someone butts into something and tells you about how you need god, etc, etc.

i don't mind friends politely inviting me to their services. or people discussing their faith in a respectful manner when it is relevant to what we are discussing.

i do mind anyone (friend or stranger) telling me they think i am going to hell, or any variation on that theme, including people persistenly telling me i have to go to their church or place of worship.

 

[chobie]

This is inspired by a lot of recent threads where posters have complained about people "pushing their religion" on them. I am just kind of wondering what that means. It seems like a lot of people feel that all Christians do this, not just some, so I am curious of the definition.

IRL, the only discussions about faith I really have are with other Christians, unless someone comes right out and asks me a question. I may mention that I go to church (as in "I can't meet you for lunch that early, I will still be in church") , but I don't tell anyone else they need to.

Here on the boards, there is a lot of discussion on faith topics, so I do participate, though I have been accused by a couple of posters of pushing my faith here just because I have answered a question or participated in a faith-based discussion stating what I believe.

What is the line between having a faith and pushing it?

You know, the whole "witnessing" thing? When that happens in RL to me, I consider to be pushing your religion on me.

BTW, the most amusing witnessing I witnessed was at EPCOT the day after the Night of Joy. This women was trying to push her religion on this poor young French guy working the Kidcot at France. She went on for about 40 minutes, and as he was an employee, he had to respectfully listen. My DH saved him from the women by starting up a different conversation and after she left, the guy thanked us.

 

[piglet too]

I guess for me "pushing a religion" is making it seem that there is no other way to go. For example, when I take my DS6 to church (per his request) for the first time on Sunday, I don't want anyone at that church making it seem like he can't find faith someplace else. Does that make sense?

 

[LukenDC]

I think that people of all faiths, not just Christians, are capable of pushing their religion on others. I also believe that a minority of religious people could be classified as "pushers." Some examples of "pushing religion" are:

1. Insisting that religious texts be the primary basis for civil law
2. Constantly proselytizing to an individual after they have asked you to stop
3. Using personal religious views to try to regulate another person's personal life (sex, living arrangements, parenting, etc.)
4. Posting religious documents in government spaces where they are standing alone and not part of an historical, broad collection

 

[chobie]

I think that people of all faiths, not just Christians, are capable of pushing their religion on others. I also believe that a minority of religious people could be classified as "pushers." Some examples of "pushing religion" are:

1. Insisting that religious texts be the primary basis for civil law
2. Constantly proselytizing to an individual after they have asked you to stop
3. Using personal religious views to try to regulate another person's personal life (sex, living arrangements, parenting, etc.)
4. Posting religious documents in government spaces where they are standing alone and not part of an historical, broad collection

Excellent examples.

 

[chrissyk]

I guess that I'd agree with all of the above. For me, the issue of "pushing" religion has more to do with people trying to "recruit" new members to their church-of-the-week here than it does with the religion itself. There are a LOT of new churches popping up in a town where we own a house. The members are quite zealous. They don't stop pushing even when you say "no thanks" repeatedly. To me, that is pushing your religion on someone.

 

[Cebhfhionn]

No, you are not pushing your religion on me but telling me that you are going to a church function. I think its wonderful when people have faith and feel good about going somewhere.

No, not ALL Christians do the pushing thing.

I don't like when people come to my door to push their religion on me.

I don't like when I'm reading a book and someone asks me "What can I do to get you to come back to church?"

And that is what "pushing religion" means to me.

 

[chobie]

People knocking on your door to try to recruit you to their religion/church. That is pushing it IMO as well.

 

[MosMom]

My SIL pushes it on us & our kids often. I love her to death but I wish she would cut it out. Giving my daughter a rusty nail ornament at Christmas along with a candy cane (telling her the red is Jesus' blood and the white is his body) is pushing religion...especially, when she knows how we feel. This past visit she kept taking her upstairs to read devotions and then asked me to come pray with them. Ummm, no. Oh, and the kicker...asking me to stop and pray before I eat a meal at my own table in my own house.

 

[Rex Rules]

Here is a horrible example of pushing religion -

a little background - my sister and her DH and kids aren't particularly religious - they do believe in God and so on and so forth, but don't attend a church. Often their work schedule is such that they are at work during that time on Sunday.

Well, a couple of years ago, her sister in law asked if she could take my sister's kids to bible school - well that was very nice, so my sister thought. After the week of bible school was over, there was a sort of last time on Sunday night at the church when they all went to the regular worship time with the rest of the church, including adults. Well, this sister in law proceeds to push my sisters kids to the front to parade them as "heathens", children whose parents never take them to church and for everyone to pray for them and their salvation. The older child was around 10 then and big enough to relate to her mother what had happened and let me tell you - my sister was HOT. I thought that was horrible way to treat two CHILDREN!

 

[swilphil]

I also think it's pushy when people put down your views and religious practices because they believe that their church's teaching is the "only" way to God. I think we underestimate God if we believe that there's only one route to take.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

My SIL pushes it on us & our kids often. I love her to death but I wish she would cut it out. Giving my daughter a rusty nail ornament at Christmas along with a candy cane (telling her the red is Jesus' blood and the white is his body) is pushing religion...especially, when she knows how we feel.

with reagrd to the candy cane explanation. I would be offended by that and I am a Christian. ROFL

 

[lbgraves]

To me it is whenever someone judges you based on the fact that you do something that goes against their beliefs. A friend has a neighbor who does this all the time & is always making comments to her about what she & her kids do wrong. Of course, it doesn't stop her from dropping her kids off at the last minute for a few hours while she goes to do something else.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I don't know if anybody else considers this 'pushing religion' or not, but there have been quite a few times when I have come out of work after my shift and my car is the ONLY one with a religious pamphlet stuck up under my car windshield.

I don't broadcast to the world that I'm pagan (with bumperstickers, etc on my car). Yet they seem to find MY car every time. Must be the combination of a Pooh bear, a sword and a tin tatertot (he's on a keyring..was a gift from corp. one time) hanging from my rearview.

TOV

 

[crazyforgoofy]

The family of Pentecostals (not sure which Pentecostals) who live next door and send their 8 year old to tell my 7 year old she's going to hell because she doesn't go to their church, she wears shorts and sleeveless tops and she cuts her hair!


The woman who lives on the next street who "stops by" to "discuss her faith" with me when I'm doing yard work. She now leaves notes in my door with info on prayer meetings.

There are so many churches in this little town you can't swing a cat without hitting one. That's fine but now our school ONLY teaches faith based abstinence education in high school - because the churches got together and paid for a program. Oh and there are "Prayer Zone" signs on the streets around the schools - though the town council didn't allow them to be put on city property.

The people who knock on my door asking me if I've found Jesus? But I sort of get a kick out of the looks on their faces when I say with great sincerity "I didn't know he was missing."

 

[MosMom]

I don't know if anybody else considers this 'pushing religion' or not, but there have been quite a few times when I have come out of work after my shift and my car is the ONLY one with a religious pamphlet stuck up under my car windshield.

I don't broadcast to the world that I'm pagan (with bumperstickers, etc on my car). Yet they seem to find MY car every time. Must be the combination of a Pooh bear, a sword and a tin tatertot (he's on a keyring..was a gift from corp. one time) hanging from my rearview.

TOV

Sonic gave you a tin tatertot as a corporate gift? Man, I want one. Can I have your tot?

 

[caitycaity]

The people who knock on my door asking me if I've found Jesus? But I sort of get a kick out of the looks on their faces when I say with great sincerity "I didn't know he was missing."

 

[ead79]

Sonic gave you a tin tatertot as a corporate gift? Man, I want one. Can I have your tot?

Me too! That has to be the coolest thing ever, LOL!

Now, on with the regularly scheduled thread.

For me, I don’t think it’s a certain set of actions that constitutes pushing religion. I think it has more to do with the way it’s done. For instance, asking someone if they would like to attend church with you politely is not pushing religion. Screaming at someone that they will go to hell if they don’t come to church with you is pushing religion. My beliefs do involve sharing my faith, but in a polite respectful way that shows respect and love for others.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Sonic gave you a tin tatertot as a corporate gift? Man, I want one. Can I have your tot?

Yeah...every once in awhile we get stuff from corp. One time it was a metal decal thingie on a keyring that celebrated the 50th anniversary. The last time we got something like that from Corp was when they gave everybody Tater, our Tatertot mascot on a keychain. He's made of tin (or something..hard,metallic and shiny), and he hangs from my rearview along with a Pooh antenna topper I didn't want stolen and a plastic sword (the kind you buy for appetizers to spear cheese with).

And I kid you not..EVERY TIME I get one of these religious pamphlets, I'm the only car in the parking lot (that I can tell anyway). I wonder why they seem to single me out for such..I dunno..punishment.

TOV